Today:  “A Very Brief History of International Criminal Law” (Fossum)

Birthdays: Jean Wakely (2/3)

Next Week: Building Low-Income Housing in Minneapolis with Herb Frey (Gleason)

Last Week:

    Society has come a long way in its acceptance of those with disabilities, but Tom Tanghe, whose brother has Down’s Syndrome, offered first-hand insight into how the disabled and their loved ones straddle the two worlds — theirs and ours.

He describes his brother Andy, one of six brothers, as a “sweet, honest and loving” individual, who deals in positives, unburdened by the things that consume our lives: careers, status, material benchmarks. On the other hand, Andy constantly confronts his limitations when he watches older brothers play sports, drive cars and attend college.

“The difference is painfully clear to him,” Tom said.

Down’s Syndrome is caused by creation of extra genetic material in the early stages of fetal development. Down’s babies arrive with an extra chromosome that expresses itself in both physical and cognitive limitations. But the range is wide. Some function at a very high level.

Attitudes in both education and medicine have created a much more hospitable world for people with Andy’s disability. But Tom said the loving environment his parents created for Andy made all the difference in the world.

Andy is now 35 years old. He lives in his own apartment and works at Target and the National Guard Armory in Eden Prairie. And he is engaged to a woman who also has Down’s Syndrome.

Tom said he feels privileged to have the relationship he has with his brother.

Guests: Jon Snodgrass (Rich), Daniel Ajpap (Reggie) and our exchange students: Aish, Mathilde, Felecia, Camillo and Nichopat.

Scholarship Enhancement: Mark Gleason lands another grant-in-aid.

Announcements:

— “To India and Back,” our “rock the house” winter social will be Saturday, Feb. 25. Tickets, posters and T-shirts are available. Anyone who is anyone is going to be there. Don’t miss it.

— We will be hosting a Global Study Exchange group from Brasil on Saturday, March 24.

— Jane Fenton announced that the Turkey Trot video is now ready for release.

— Kurt Larson encouraged members to check their information on the weekly bulletin to make sure it is correct. If any changes are necessary, e-mail them to Kurt at: kelarson@larsonprinting.com.

—Lee Dilley reported that Jessie Diggens, a world-class cross country skier, who has broken bread with us, is doing well on the U.S. Ski Team. She won four events in national competition and won a silver medal recently in the World Cups. You can follow her at jessiediggens.com.

Coming Up:
Feb. 16 – Mathilde Mortensen, Denmark (Barry Carlson)
Feb. 23  -  (Esse)
Feb. 25 – To India and Back

Today: Tom Tanghe about Down’s Syndrome (Fritz)

Birthdays: Missi Ahrens (1/24))

Next Week: – “A Very Brief History of International Criminal Law” (Fossum)

Last Week:

President Bierman, club officers and committee chairs gave us a mid-year overview of our club, what it does and how it does it.

President-elect Fenton reported that at present we have 131 members. Eight new members have signed on thus far this year. She is planning an orientation for these folks and invites anyone who is interested to come, too.

Charlie Cogan reported that our International Service project in Thailand is going well. Several of our members will be traveling to Thailand in May for the International Rotary Conference. They plan to visit ChaingMai and get a tour of the school we are helping build.

Vicki Dilley said the Youth Exchange Program is looking for host families and counselors for next year’s inbound students. She will be leading a Global Study Exchange group to Brasil in April. We will be hosting a five-person GSE team from Brasil in March. For that, we need host families and vocational connections for a psychiatrist, nutritionist, architect and interior designer.

Our relationship with The Key remains strong, according to Nancy Amerman. The kids raised $5,000 for the car raffle and helped with the bike tour and the Turkey Trot. We won’t be selling Valentine flowers. She is looking for a way to help The Key get t-shirts for the kids, so they can be identified when they are working for the cause.

Club members are encouraged to contribute each year — Every Rotarian, Every Year — to the Paul Harris Foundation. Jim Prichard reminded us of the half-price sale available to members, a $1,000 Paul Harris Scholarship for just $500.

Carl Caskey said our clubs contributes $5,000 a year to local projects and campaigns. Our strength, he said, is our flexibility and ability to make things happen quickly. His committee will be meeting with the United Way and WINGS to get a sense of community needs.

Chris Weber said the club will be reviving its literacy work. We will be partnering with the Northfield Public Library to put books in the hands of kids through the Early Childhood Family Education program.

We will be appealing to more hard-core, “crazy” bike riders under the direction of our new Defeat of Jesse James Bike Tour chair, Roberty Zayas. He said a timed bike rid is in the plans.

Buckle up everyone.

Officers for 2012-13 elected

  Our fearless leaders for the coming year were elected at last week’s meeting. They are: President — Jane Fenton; President Elect/Membership — Jim Prichard; Secretary —Matt Rich; Treasurer —    Dave Wolf;  International Service —-Russ Halverson; Club Service —Neil Lutsky; Community Service —Judy Brown-Wescott; Vocational Service —Missy Arens; Communication/ PR —Co Chairs  – Steve Wilmot/Kurt Larson; Past President —Robert Bierman. They will assume their roles in July.

Guests: No nonmember guests, but member Judy Brown-Wescott was introduced to the club after a long absence due to surgery.

Scholarship Enhancement: Missi Ahrens

Announcements:

— “To India and Back,” our “rock the house” winter social will be Saturday, Feb. 25. Tickets, posters and T-shirts are available. Anyone who is anyone is going to be there. Don’t miss it.

Coming Up:
Feb. 9 – Building Low-Income Housing in Minneapolis with Herb Frey Gleason)
Feb. 16 – Mathilde Mortensen, Denmark (Barry Carlson)
Feb. 23  — Esse
Feb. 25 – To India and Back

Today: Open Club Meeting (President Bierman)

Birthdays: Mark Abbott (1/17)

Next Week: Tom Tanghe about Down’s Syndrome (Fritz)

Last Week:

Aishwarya Gokhale must feel like a fish out of water. She leaves her home town of Pune, India, which she shares with three million other people, to live in Dundas, Minn., population 1,367. She trades interesting vistas with rolling hills for flat prairie land and trades a tropical Indian climate for a crisp Minnesota winter. Even a mild winter can challenge the uninitiated.

But she enjoys trying new things and meeting new people, and that’s what she’s been able to do with her exchange year. She’s ridden horses, walked on a frozen lake, and eaten mini-donuts at the Minnesota State Fair.

Back home, she lived on a seventh floor, three-bedroom apartment with her mother, an aerobics instructor, her father, a trader of graphic art materials, and her younger sister. Students attend high school through grade 10, so Aish was already enrolled in a junior college last year.

She said she’s been surprised by the flat topography here, by the number of people who speak Spanish, by the number of cars that hit deer and steering wheels on the left side of the car. She is missing her native cuisine, but on the up side, she is looking forward to her parents visiting in the spring.

Her life lesson takeaways from this experience:

— Everything happens for a reason;

— Nothing is weird, just different;

— It’s never cold, just chilly.

Second Reading — Officers for 2012-13

President — Jane Fenton; President Elect/Membership — Jim Prichard; Secretary —Matt Rich; Treasurer —      Dave Wolf;  International Service —-Russ Halverson; Club Service —Neil Lutsky; Community Service —Judy Brown-Wescott; Vocational Service —Missy Arens; Communication/ PR —Co Chairs  – Steve Wilmot/Kurt Larson; Past President        —Robert Bierman.

New Member: Teresa Tilson (V. Dilley) was inducted for a second time. Teresa was previously a member of the club before moving to the Pacific Northwest for a couple of years. Welcome back Teresa.

Guests: Annika Hanson, Rebecca Spriewald, Maria Olson, Anne Archibald, Nicole Smestad, Tilly Bartelt, Kyle Snesrud, Craig and Brenda Squires, Mark and Mary Mitchell, Beth Abdella (Aishwarya); Dixie Baird, Virginia Epps and Marge Kennedy (Prowe).

Scholarship Enhancement: Dave Brown

Announcements:

— “To India and Back,” our “rock the house” winter social will be Saturday, Feb. 25. Tickets, postes and T-shirts are available. Anyone who is anyone is going to be there. Don’t miss it.

— Fred Rogers reported that the Salvation Army bell ringing was a success. $14,600 was raised in Northfield, alone, during 85 shifts. Forty-two thousand was raised countywide.

— Richard Maus shared a report that India has not diagnosed a case of polio in the last year. That leaves only Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan as the three countries yet to eliminate the disease. The campaign continues.

Coming Up:
February 2 –John Fossum host
February 9 –Mark Gleason host
February 16 – Mathilde Mortensen, Denmark (Barry Carlson)

Today: Aishwarya Gokhale, Exchange Student from India – (Abdella).

Birthdays: Lynne Pederson (1/11) and Rick Esse (1/16)

Next Week: Open Club Meeting at Northfield Senior Center (President Bierman):

Last Week:

Roberto Zayas is just your average Puerto Rican beach guy, who blends neuroscience and law to make a life for himself and his family in winter-ravaged Northfield, Minn.

He was born and raised in Puerto Rico and lived the good life outdoors and shirtless. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a degree in Biology, earned a Ph.D in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota and then a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. He worked for a time doing patent work on medical devices and now is following an entrepreneurial vein, developing a resource that will bring business and colleges together around innovative ideas.

Roberto gave us a taste of his neuroscience research, explaining the slow channel syndrome and how brain signals communicate with zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

When we rejoined Roberto, he told us that he is married to Melissa Eblen-Zayas, a physics professor at Carleton College. They have one daughter, Amelia.

Roberto is chair of the 2012 Defeat of Jesse James Bike Tour and for that we thank him. He is an avid cyclist and enjoys hiking as well. He sees Rotary has a spiritual practice of sorts. It is a vehicle for him to leave a better world for the next generation.

Mini  Classification — Mathew Rich

Here is all you need to know about Mathew Rich:

Boston, Gustavus, William Mitchell, Grundhoefer and Ludescher, Leah, Ella and Isaac.

First Reading — Officers for 2012-13

President —.Jane Fenton; Pres Elect/Membership — Jim Prichard; Secretary —Matt Rich; Treasurer —    Dave Wolf;  International Service —-Russ Halverson; Club Service —Neil Lutsky; Community Service —Judy Brown-Wescott; Vocational Service —Missy Arens; Communication/ PR —Co Chairs  – Steve Wilmot/Kurt Larson; Past President        —Robert Bierman.

Guests: Sarah Barthing and Lucas (Yogi); Leah Rich (Esse) and Hanne, Pallo and Niko Svendsen (Bierman).

Scholarship Enhancement: David Wolf, our treasurer-in-waiting

Announcements:

— We took time to remember club member George Soule who died December 24 at the age of 81. George was a professor of English at Carleton College from 1962-1993. He became a member of Rotary in 1993 and raised the profile of our Youth Exchange Program with his writing skills. We thank him for his service to Rotary and for sharing part of his life’s journey with us.

— President Bierman reported that Judy Brown-Wescott is still recuperating from back surgery, but hopes to be with us on next week.

— Our January 19^th meeting will be held at the Northfield Senior Center at noon. The golf club will be closed for remodeling that week.

— The Y.E.A.R. event on December 29^th was pronounced a “great evening.”

— The Mill Towns Trail project received $1,000 from the Midwest Mountaineering grant program. Thank you to all who voted online.

— Momentum is building for the “To India and Back” winter social Saturday, Feb. 25. Corporate sponsors are in the fold, T-shirts are printed and available for $15 and Patrick O’Neil has committed to emceeing. Apparently Billy Crystal has a previous commitment. Tickets are available at our meetings, online or at the door.

Coming Up:
Jan. 26 —

Today: Roberto Zayas – Classification, (Rich)

Birthdays: Ingrid Sampo (1/2), Fred Rogers (1/4), Ron Linde (1/5) and Curtis Tiano (1/6)

Next Week: Aishwarya Gokhale, Exchange Student from India – (Abdella).

Last Week:
Lynn Miland will tell you that bullying is learned behavior. She is a parent educator and trainer for PACER, an organization that serves families with children who have disabilities. In 2006, PACER launched a Bullying Prevention Center and now offers free digital resources on the topic.
Bullying is characterized as either physical or emotional abuse, often directed at kids who have trouble defending themselves. Cyber-bullying, using social media to harass or intimidate peers, has become a 21^st century version of bullying behavior.
Between 10 and 15 percent of the youth population has been the victim of bullying at one time or another, Miland said. Children with disabilities are two to three times more likely to fall into that category.

It is a behavior that is under-reported. Miland said 64 percent of bullying victims do not report these incidents. Parents should be on the look out for signs of depression or anxiety in these cases.
There is no one solution to this age-old problem, according to Miland. The task is to create a culture that doesn’t tolerate it. All children need to be taught empathy, respect and compassion. Kids need to learn how to advocate for themselves and, if they witness bullying behavior, they should be assertive in discouraging attacks and providing support for the victims.
Lynn’s daughter, Maggie, a high school student, spoke about her awakening to this issue, watching her older autistic sister navigate the outside world. “It took a toll,” she said.
Maggie was invited to a White House conference on bullying last year and two months ago attended a Peace Conference in Norway, where she learned bullying is a global issue.

Tom Durkin Classification:

Tom’s life breaks down into orderly chapters. He grew up one of six kids in an Irish, German, Italian Wisconsin family. His father was a firefighter, who became involved in union administration and later served as Fire Chief for the city of Madison, Wis.

After graduating from high school, Tom embarked on a three-year odyssey of experiential learning that took him around the world and back again. He returned to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin, majoring in International Relations and Chinese Studies. He then earned a Masters in Chinese and International Affairs at Columbia University in New York.

Tom met his wife, Megan, at a French restaurant in Madison. They married and moved to Asia for 10 years, their expatriate chapter, while Tom worked for Midwest Imports of Cannon Falls. He eventually was transferred back to company headquarters, and that’s when they moved to Northfield.

He calls this the American Dream chapter. He and Megan raised their three children here, and they thoroughly love Northfield. He calls it a “community with a soul.”

They have a son at Carleton College, a daughter at Colorado State and a daughter in high school. Tom now works for Kaemingk Associations (USA), whose headquarters are on Division Street.

2012-13 Outbound Students

Sixteen Northfield High School students were accepted for the 2012-13 exchange year. They are: Sofie Scheuerman (Argentina), Rachel Crippen (Austria), Avery Nelson (Brasil), Cyrette Saunier (Brasil), Annika Hansen (Brasil), Karrah Nelson (Chile), Abbie Valinski (Colombia), Calina Hall (Czech Republic), Theo Hofrenning (Ecuador), Maggie Miland (France), Erik Berthelson (India), Mats Hansen (Italy), Kiana Asada (Japan), Evan Weselman (Japan), Eduardo Jaramillo (Taiwan) and Connor Rohwer (Taiwan).

This just in…..

Grace McGregor, our outbound in Finland, writes:
   “Being here in Finland, I have three lives; my life in the US, my life in Finland, and my life as an exchange student. It is really only something you can understand if you’ve done it yourself… you actually experience being in someone else’s shoes, which seems to be something not many people get to do. It really is the greatest experience you can have, it opens your mind to how the world can work, and that not everything that works is “right” and not everything that is “right” works.”

Elisha McLaughlin, another outbound in Finland, writes:
“Things have been amazing here. The exchange experience is truly beyond words. I never really believed people when they said it was something you couldn’t understand until you had experienced it for yourself, but it is 100% true. Being here in Finland has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, redefined words like home, friends, family, normal, time, important and so much more, taught me about myself, and allowed me to meet some of the most amazing people in the world (both Finns and other exchange students). I have memories that will last a lifetime and am only four months into my exchange. This has been the best time of my life so far, despite challenges, and I have no doubt I will continue to enjoy my exchange and grow as a person as the year goes on.”

Guests: Ally Thorkelson, Kari Bergeson, and Lawrence Warden (Durkin); Howard Puczko (Puczko); Pablo (Fenton); and Carolyn Pokorney (Pokorney).

Scholarship Enhancement: Richard Maus

Announcements:.

— Aishwa gave a ringing endorsement to the club’s winter social “To India and Back” Saturday, Feb. 25. She said it will be “awesome and authentic.” Tickets are available online or at our regular meetings.

— A Mill Towns Trail project is competing for a $10,000 grant from Midwest Mountaineering. You are encouraged to go online and vote for the Parks and Trails Council project. Every vote counts.

— President Bierman congratulated club member Ivan Imm on being appointed to a seat on the Northfield City Council.

Coming Up:
Jan. 19 — Open Club Meeting (President Bierman)

Today: Round Table: Anti-Bullying, Lynn and Maggie Miland (Durkin)

Birthdays: Blake Abdella and Vicki Dilley (12/21), Bill Carlson (12/23), Neal Lutsky (12/27) and Kurt Larson

Next Week: Rotary Social in the evening at Northfield High School. No noon meeting.

Last Week:

Turns out our own Steve Wilmot is a regular Don Quixote, dreaming the impossible dream. If we see windmills popping up on Bridge Square, we’ll know his dreams came true.

An architect with SMSQ, he is part of an ad hoc group called the Northfield Roundtable that is attempting to create a vision for how Northfield’s downtown core could develop far into the future. They are taking their lead from a planning group in Holland, Michigan, hometown of Dave VanWylan, another roundtable member.

They’ve developed a framework for planning and some conceptual illustrations of Northfield’s downtown commercial area designed to be a conversation starter. They are looking for synergy, connectivity and imaginative ideas.

Steve said some of the emerging principles underlying their concepts include an east-west connection across TH3, a desire to exploit the river and development of common space.

They’ve already had one brainstorming session attended by some 60 people. Another is being planned for February and you all are invited. For more information go to: www.northfieldroundtable.org.

Paul Harris Fellows: Russ Halverson and Leo Lawlor were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows.

New Members: Paul Reiland and Virginia Lorang were formally accepted into the club. Paul’s sponsor is Ryan Blumhoefer; Virginia’s is Jane Fenton. Welcome.

This just in…..

Grace McGregor, our outbound in Finland, writes:
   “Being here in Finland, I have three lives; my life in the US, my life in Finland, and my life as an exchange student. It is really only something you can understand if you’ve done it yourself… you actually experience being in someone else’s shoes, which seems to be something not many people get to do. It really is the greatest experience you can have, it opens your mind to how the world can work, and that not everything that works is “right” and not everything that is “right” works.”

Elisha McLaughlin, another outbound in Finland, writes:
“Things have been amazing here. The exchange experience is truly beyond words. I never really believed people when they said it was something you couldn’t understand until you had experienced it for yourself, but it is 100% true. Being here in Finland has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, redefined words like home, friends, family, normal, time, important and so much more, taught me about myself, and allowed me to meet some of the most amazing people in the world (both Finns and other exchange students). I have memories that will last a lifetime and am only four months into my exchange. This has been the best time of my life so far, despite challenges, and I have no doubt I will continue to enjoy my exchange and grow as a person as the year goes on.”

Guests: Lucacz (Yogi), Angela Storch (Koenig), Harold Johnson (C. Richardson), Jack Huse (Covey), Bill Johnson (Prowe), Rachel Vanden (Reiland) and Sarah Line (Puczko).

Scholarship Enhancement: Steve Wilmot (Now, we’re paying our speakers?)

Announcements:.

— Rotary is responsible for two weeks of Meals-On-Wheels in January. If you are available the weeks of January 8 and January 15, please see Lynn Pederson.

— Our Y.E.A.R. (Youth Exchange and Reflection) program Thursday, Dec. 29, will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Northfield High School. A variety of cheeses and breads will be on the menu.

— Save the date: “To India and Back,” our bi-annual winter fundraiser will be Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. Tickets are available for purchase today.

Coming Up:
Jan. 5 – Roberto Zayas – Classification, (Rich)
Jan. 12 – Aishwarya Gokhale, Exchange Student from India – (Abdella).
 

Today: Round Table: Dreaming of Northfield’s Future, Steve Wilmot (Ellingboe)

Birthdays: Ed Fox (12/11), Dean Johnson (12/14) and Dale Ness and John Ophaug (12/15).

Next Week: Anti-Bullying, Lynn and Maggie Miland (Durkin)

Last Week:

Tom Thorfinnson, an active Hopkins Rotarian who is completing his two-year term on Rotary International’s Board of Directors, is a self-described progressive within Rotary circles. He sees the need for Rotary to refresh some of its mores in order to be more relevant to younger prospective members. But he said there are some fundamental core values that need to be preserved. He counts ethics and service among them.

A graduate of St. Olaf College, Tom practices law in the Twin Cities. Since 1980, he has been an active Rotarian. He and his wife, Jane, have hosted three Rotary Youth Exchange students. Tom has served as a Country Representative for Rotary Youth Exchanges to and from Thailand, India and Indonesia. He chaired the Multi-District Youth Exchange program for 5950-5960. In 1996-97, Tom served District 5950 as Governor. He has chaired numerous district committees, many with a focus on fundraising for The Rotary Foundation.

His eyes were opened wide to the important work Rotary does when he visited Haiti. He subsequently has made 10 trips, working on numerous water and housing projects. He said it is just one example of the impact Rotary has in so many developing countries worldwide.

The Rotary Foundation, Tom said, is a vehicle that helps Rotarians make a difference.

“At its core, Rotary is an amazing organization, and we should all support it,” he said.

Paul Harris Award: Rick Estenson honored his longtime friend and brother-in-law Chuck Beske with Paul Harris Fellowship. Chuck has been active in a number of humanitarian initiatives that reflect Rotary’s mission.

This just in…..

Amelia Ousley, an outbound in South Africa, reports:
Since arriving in Grahamstown, South Africa, she has experienced the racial difficulties and disparities that remain in post-Apartheid South Africa.  She has been volunteering at the Lebone Centre, which is a place where disadvantaged black children go for help with reading and schoolwork. The children also receive a meal and have the option of taking music lessons and working on art projects. Many of the children are HIV positive or suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and all have grown up in poverty.
This week Amelia went with her Rotary club to visit a school that was built by a local monastery for rural children. Without this school, many of the children would receive no education at all.  Her Rotary Club in South Africa would like to purchase some supplies for the school and Amelia thinks this may be a worthy cause for the Northfield club to support.

Grace McGregor, our outbound in Finland, writes:
   “Being here in Finland, I have three lives; my life in the US, my life in Finland, and my life as an exchange student. It is really only something you can understand if you’ve done it yourself… you actually experience being in someone else’s shoes, which seems to be something not many people get to do. It really is the greatest experience you can have, it opens your mind to how the world can work, and that not everything that works is “right” and not everything that is “right” works.”

Elisha McLaughlin, another outbound in Finland, writes:
“Things have been amazing here. The exchange experience is truly beyond words. I never really believed people when they said it was something you couldn’t understand until you had experienced it for yourself, but it is 100% true. Being here in Finland has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, redefined words like home, friends, family, normal, time, important and so much more, taught me about myself, and allowed me to meet some of the most amazing people in the world (both Finns and other exchange students). I have memories that will last a lifetime and am only four months into my exchange. This has been the best time of my life so far, despite challenges, and I have no doubt I will continue to enjoy my exchange and grow as a person as the year goes on.”

Guests: Nathan Yaffe, Cindy and Chuck Beske, Kris, Sam and Maria Estenson (Estenson); Erin Mayberry and Jill Frey (V. Dilley); and Ruth Amerman (Amerman).

Scholarship Enhancement: David Koenig

Announcements:

— Fred Rogers is looking for volunteers to work as bell ringers for the Rice County unit of the Salvation Army during the holiday season. Ringers raised $6,000 in the first three weeks. He hopes to double that amount before the season is over.

— Rotary is responsible for two weeks of Meals-On-Wheels in January. If you are available the weeks of January 8 and January 15, please see Lynn Pederson.

— James and Clarice Grabau made a memorable entrance last week. James is recovering from knee surgery, Clarice from a broken wrist. We witnessed James hobbling ahead of Clarice so he could open the door for her. They’ll laugh about this some day.

— Save the date: “To India and Back,” our bi-annual winter fundraiser will be Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. Tickets will be available for purchase today.

— Mark Abbott reported that progress is being made on our service project in Thailand. Photos that he circulated showed the school taking shape for the orphanage and boarding school.

— President Bierman announced that Judy Brown-Wescott is recovering from back surgery. She will be recuperating for four to six weeks.

— Jim Holden offered to donate to Rotary proceeds from the sale of his Minnesota tennis book.

Coming Up:
Dec. 29 –- Rotary Social in the evening. No noon meeting.
Jan. 5 – Roberto Zayas – Classification, (Rich)
Jan. 12 – Aishwarya Gokhale, Exchange Student from India – (Abdella).
 

Today: Thomas M. Thorfinnson – Rotary Foundation, (Pritchard and Brown)

Birthdays: Jim Holden (12/6) and Jim Pokorney (12/7)

Next Week: Round Table: Dreaming of Northfield’s Future, Steve Wilmot (Ellingboe)

Last Week:

Sweden has been generous with the world. It has given us ikea, abba, safety matches, Pippi Longstocking and now Felicia Speychal.

At her core, Felicia is a happy wanderer. She is eager to learn about other people and other cultures. She was 13 when she traveled to England by herself for a summer language course. Before coming to the United States this fall, she had already logged trips to Turkey, Thailand, Bulgaria, Malta, Finland, Italy, Norway and Denmark. She speaks French and Italian in addition to English and Swedish. For her, language is a pathway to understanding other cultures.

At home in Kariskoga, she and her five-year old sister live with their parents. Her mother works with prison inmates and her father is a production manager. Felicia is in a natural science program in high school and is hoping to become a pediatrician. She is involved in music, gymnastics and diving.

While here in Northfield, Felicia has embraced the exchange experience. She has participated in tennis and gymnastics, volunteered, taken challenging courses and recorded an impressive 3.95 GPA.

She has found school to be very different from what she has experienced in Sweden. Here the emphasis is more on copying and memorization, she said. In Sweden, there is more discussion and analysis.

Felicia is very appreciative of her counselors, Jim and Caroline Holden, and her host families. She thanked the club for giving her this opportunity.

Turkey Trot: The Thanksgiving Turkey Trot set records in all categories. Mike Lane, chair of the event, reported that 660 runners and walkers participated, allowing us to net $10,000 from the event. Wow!

Ed Fox Tribute: We celebrated Ed Fox’s new Rotary emeritus status with cake and a heartfelt rendition of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Ed became a Rotarian in 1947. He was president of the Des Moines club in 1973 when Rotary International celebrated its golden anniversary and was a member here when we celebrated our centennial anniversary. He graciously accepted the honorary membership conferred upon him. Brett Reese thanked Ed for his service and the kindness he has displayed over the years in both his personal and professional life.

Guests: Sam and Maria Estenson (Estenson); Sonja Stevens (Kyte); Caroline Holden, Anne Archibald, Hannah Vasilis, Beth West, Katie, Ellen and Tom Roster, Sharon Rasmussen, Carla and Marshall Hanson, Rachel Marosi, Maggie Miland, Cindy Carlson, Angel and Bob Dobrow (Felicia); Virginia Lorang (Fenton); Melissa Eblen-Zayas (Zayas); and Peter Prudden (Koenig).

Scholarship Enhancement: Linda Willgohs

Announcements:

— An account has been established at First National Bank to aid Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin and his family. Their house was completely destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving eve.

— Fred Rogers is looking for volunteers to work as bell ringers for the Rice County unit of the Salvation Army during the holiday season.

— Rotary is responsible for two weeks of Meals-On-Wheels in January. If you are available the weeks of January 8 and January 15, please see Lynn Pederson.

— Charlie Cogan mentioned that James Grabau is recovering after knee surgery.

— Save the date: “To India and Back,” our bi-annual winter fundraiser will be Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.

Coming Up:
Dec. 22 –- Anti-bullying, Lynn and Maggie Miland (Durkin)
Jan. 5 – Roberto Zayas – Classification, (Rich)
Jan. 12 – Aishwarya Gokhale, Exchange Student from India – (Abdella).
 

Birthdays: Art Monaghan (11/25), Sam Gett (11/27), Matt Hillmann (11/29), and John Ehresmann (12/4)

Next Week: Thomas M. Thorfinnson – Rotary Foundation, (Pritchard and Brown),

Last Week:

Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA) is 95 percent of the way towards completing its $1.3 million “Inspiring Possibilities, Realizing Dreams” capital campaign. The funds will be used for two new, one-story, residential cottages that will create a more home-like atmosphere for the LBSA’s Oak Street clients. Sandra Gerdes, LBSA executive director, said they want to create an environment where clients and staff can live and work as a family.

The campaign has already allowed for the restoration of Elwell and Baker halls. Once the two new cottages are built, the venerable, but fading Margaret Graves Hall — now 83 years old — will be razed. In its place, a Recognition Garden will be created.

Gerdes said the important thing to remember is that this campaign will create homes for the developmentally disabled who reside at Oak Street. It will give staff an opportunity to work with the clients in new ways that today’s cramped common space does not permit.

Laura Baker Services Association was founded it namesake, Laura Baker, in 1897. It moved to 211 Oak Street in Northfield in 1898.

This just in…..

Last week’s Thanksgiving Turkey Trot was a huge success.

New Member: Tate Running was inducted into the club. His sponsor is Don Robertson. Congratulations Tate and welcome.

Paul Harris Recognition: The Rotary Foundation recognized Mark Abbott for his fifth Paul Harris Scholarship.

Guests: Jim Pech (Estenson), Paul Krause (Brown-Wescott)

Scholarship Enhancement: Dale Ness

Announcements:

The board has accepted Paul Reiland and Virginia Lorang for membership.

Save the date: “To India and Back,” our bi-annual winter fundraiser will be Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.

Chris Weber is looking for volunteers to help with interviews for the Rotary International Global Grant Scholarships.

Coming Up:
Dec. 15 — Round Table: Dreaming of Northfield’s Future, Steve Wilmot ( Ellingboe)
Dec. 22 –- Anti-bullying, Lynn and Maggie Miland (Durkin)

Birthdays: Jim Prichard and Mathew Rich (11/17)

Next Week: TURKEY TROT.

Last Week:

It’s about the dreams.

That’s what District Governor Judy Freund says is so transformative about service.

“It’s about giving people dreams and supporting them in the pursuit of those dreams,” she said.

A retired educator from Hudson, Wis., Judy has been visiting the 55 local Rotary clubs in her district over the last six months, promoting the work of the Rotary Foundation. It’s the arm of the organization that leverages local giving to fund humanitarian projects, large and small, around the globe, everything from polio eradication to clean water and school buildings.  .

Every club has identified service along with fellowship as a core Rotary attribute, she said. The local projects inform our understanding of international dynamics. And when we step either physically or spiritually into other cultures it engenders new understanding. “It causes us to carry ourselves with a sense of respect for others,” she said.

The Rotary Foundation is there to support all service projects, Judy said. Her wish is for every Rotarian to participate every year in some way, big or small. Then when Rotary wins the Nobel Prize for eradicating polio, everyone can share it that success.

Guests: Bill Talen (Bierman), Troy Ross (Estenson), Catherine Lewis and Christine Anderson (V. Dilley)

Scholarship Enhancement: Our exchange students with an assist from Russ Halverson

Announcements:

The board has accepted Paul Reiland and Virginia Lorang for membership.

Save the date: “To India and Back,” our bi-annual winter fundraiser will be Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.

Chris Weber is looking for volunteers to help with interviews for the Rotary International Global Grant Scholarships.

Coming Up:

Dec. 1 — Felicia Speychal, Exchange student from Sweden, (Holden)
Dec. 8 — Thomas M. Thorfinnson – Rotary Foundation, (Pritchard and Brown),
Dec. 15 — Round Table: D reaming of Northfield’s Future, Steve Wilmot ( Ellingboe)
Dec. 22 –- Anti-bullying talk by Lynn and Maggie Miland (Durkin)